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HARDWARE SOLUTIONS Bolt connectors can join vertical assemblies, such as two case sides, or can connect two panels face to face. Another variety allows you to make T connections, such as when a shelf joins a side. If you drill a stopped, or blind, hole for the nut in the underside of the shelf, you can conceal the cut from view. Joining Face to Face Profile of nut is same as bolt head. Nut Drill clearance hole equal to the shank diameter of the nut. Joining a T Drill blind hole for nut. Nut Bolt A Drill hole equal to shank diameter of bolt. C Bolt Flat, slim-profile head Hex drive You can counterbore for heads with a Forstner bit so they sit flush with surface of work. Knockdown Hardware B Sometimes the most appropriate fasteners are those that knock down or come apart, allowing you to transport furniture in pieces and assemble it outside of the woodshop. Knockdown (KD) hardware is especially useful for large or heavy pieces, such as beds and cabinets. (For more details on knockdown joinery, see The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery, by Gary Rogowski, The Taunton Press.) My favorite type of KD hardware is the bolt connector (A). These connectors are easy to come by, easy to use, and very easy to re-use, an important consideration if the piece you’re making is going to go through many cycles of being taken apart and put back together again. Bolt connectors have two parts: A nut captured in a hole secures the bolt, which typically has a very thin profile that won’t intrude aesthetically in the finished surface. Drill a hole through both pieces to be joined, checking that the hole is large enough for the diameter of the nut, which is usually the larger of the two parts (B). Pull the parts together by tightening the nut onto the bolt. Most connectors accept a hex wrench, which allows you to get a good grip without heavy, protruding hardware (C). 86 Nails, Screws, and Other Fasteners